Long-Sealed Watergate Documents to Be Released

The Department of Justice says at least some sealed documents in the 1972 Watergate burglary case should be released.

The department responded Friday to a request by a Texas history professor who is seeking access to materials he believes could help answer lingering questions about the burglary that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation.

Luke Nichter wrote to a judge in Washington to ask that potentially hundreds of pages of documents be unsealed. The judge earlier this year ordered the Justice Department to respond with any objections.

Department attorney Elizabeth Shapiro said in a court document that the office would not oppose the release of at least some documents.